Cubs trade Byrd to Boston

BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox acquired center fielder Marlon Byrd from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in an attempt to shore up their injury-plagued outfield and reverse an early season slide.

With Jacoby Ellsbury sidelined by a partially dislocated right shoulder and Carl Crawford rehabbing a left elbow injury, the Red Sox took Byrd off Chicago's hands in exchange for reliever Michael Bowden and a player to be named. The Cubs will pay part of Byrd's salary, which is $6.5 million this year.

"Marlon took it as you would expect," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "He was really professional about it. ... I think he's excited to have the opportunity in Boston."

The trade was rumored throughout the day and announced after Boston's 15-9 loss to the New York Yankees, a game in which the Red Sox opened a 9-0 lead but gave up back-to-back seven-run innings. It was their fifth consecutive loss, and their 30th in 41 games dating to Sept. 1, 2011.